Centrepoint, Dubai-based Landmark Group’s large format fashion and lifestyle concept, launched click & collect services for customers in the UAE on May 15 through www.centrepointstores.com. Customers can now shop and pay online and collect the items in-store on the next business day.

Benefits for customers include no shipping charges and the flexibility of collecting their order from a convenient location. Already popular in evolved retail markets such as the UK and the US, click & collect is launching in the 19 Centrepoint stores in the UAE with the goal of expanding to Saudi Arabia this summer, followed by Qatar next year.

In addition to click & collect, Centrepoint has launched the Arabic version of its site and app to provide further convenience in online shopping to its Arab customers. According to a Harvard Business Review report, 72.1% of consumers spend most or all of their time on websites in their own language and over 55% prefer obtaining information in their own language. With this launch, customers can now opt to switch to Arabic at any point in their retail journey and enjoy their shopping experience in the language of choice.

These innovations join several others that have been introduced by the web team on its e-commerce platforms in the last few months, including online returns and cancellations and easier navigation on iOS & Android apps. Combined, they represent the latest steps in Centrepoint’s efforts to further improve its e-commerce and omnichannel experience, effectively bridging the gap between online and offline shopping.

“We’re delighted to announce the launch of these features for our customers as this is part of our ongoing mission to deliver exceptional customer service,” says Simon Cooper, head of Centrepoint. “Click & collect continues to perform in more mature retail markets such as the UK and accounts for 30-50% of online orders for leading omnichannel retailers. We anticipate a rise in e-commerce traffic from the addition of this service as well as the Arabisation of our site and app, which will go a long way in making the shopping experience more convenient for our regional customers.”